Working away from home

[donetello]

I was requested at 3pm Friday to work away from home starting Monday at 5am .As i was unsure if my wife had any plans for the week of this i said i would ask her as soon as possible which would be after 5pm as she works in a school and is not allowed to have her mobile on.As soon as i got home i asked her and she reminded me her sisters birthday was on Tuesday and we were going out.On this i went in the shower.When i got out she told me work had rung and she had told them we were out on Tuesday so i couldnt do it on which he basically accused her of lying and said if i did not go there would be serious repercussions ie sack,or whatever.Does anyone know if they have to give so many days notice for this and how many or who to contact to ask.This is not the first time this has happened and its not just me several of my work mates have had this type of ultimatum for this situation.Any advise welcomed thanks in advance.

[WendyS]

I don't know what kind of work you do, and whether there is anything in your terms and conditions of employment which permits your employer to ask you to work away from home at short notice. Check these - every employee must have a letter stating their terms & conditions. If this issue is not covered in your employment offer letter, does the company have a separate Terms & Conditions Handbook which should be available to all employees? If this imposition of working away at short term notice is an issue with other employees as well and the issue is not covered in your terms and conditions of employment, I suggest you collectively ask your employer for a meeting so that something amenable can be worked out which is acceptable to all concerned. I think threatening you with the sack is a little extreme - it is not gross misconduct. However do bear in mind that your employer does have a business to run (all your jobs depend on its success) and sometimes it may be necessary for him to impose inconvenient assignments at short notice if customers, etc. are to be kept satisfied. Does your employer have a formal HR (Personnel) Department? If so, the issue should be addressed to them.

[gammaray]

Inconvenient assignments aside your employer can not expect you to change your plans at short notice just to suit him. Tell him to shove his job then take him to a tribunal for constructive dismissal. Get him to put his threats in writting (e mail etc) then he's bang to rights.

Personally I'd say I'd go, then not bother and drop him right in it. He sounds like a total moron.